Finally: transgression

I always wanted to give a course on “transgression” — a key social science concept too often ignored in the mainstream discourse. Of course I couldn’t have taught this kind of course at the LSE — I already blogged about this — but now I can, and here it is.

Courses are taught quite differently at the NCTU. I have only four students in the class but apparently that’s normal. The seminars, which are more like tutorials, go on for three hours at a time — and sometimes, if Taiwanese politics is discussed, for far longer. It’s a more conversational style but a lot more passionate.

My students are very bright, sociologists and philosophers by training and inclination. Since I never taught either subject I have to spend a lot of time reading up on stuff. Perversely I like giving courses on things I know nothing about. Somehow it’s interesting to hear what I will say (needless to say, students don’t always agree).

This week we are doing Euripides’ Bacchae, so please excuse me while I go off to the woods for a bit of revelry …